Quick Question : RE - Lionel 224 Locomotive (1945 version) vs 224E and 1666E?

Yes, prewar 224E is same part on the steam chest.  I thnk the 1666E is actually a slightly different part so keep that in mind.  And BTW, the pest is not something only fit for prewar trains.  That said, I don;t think I have seen a 224 or 224E with the pest.  Have had 226E's, 1662/1663/ etc...

Here are some pics.  The 1666E definitely has the same boiler.  I can't tell what differences may exist in the steam chest casting.  The 1666s with Gunmetal Finish still had blackened steam chests.   *Note another part oddity: On the Gondola, the one sliding shoe truck is replaced with a shoe in plate truck.  There is no evidence of a switch and the condition would not make me think the need to replace a truck ever existed.  Was that plate truck in the parts bin in 1945?  Either way I assume it can be swapped out proper with the black fiberboard flying shoe and deep dish non whirly wheels.

The rolling stock is in great shape. They should all have flying shoes though. Also not sure the engine has zinc rot or if it was just dropped. AFAIK, and I am no post war expert, but I think the main difference between the 224 and 1666 is the latter had sliding shoes vs pickup rollers.

Pete

I do see what appears to be a narrower ridge on the 1666 underside of the steam chest where the pilot wheel spring slides.  The 224 appears to have a flatter-wider ridge.  Definitely zinc rot in this case as you can see the swelling in the areas that have not broken. 

At first it looks like dropped damage. But then when you look to the left side of the picture at the bottom of the steam piston it definitely looks like pest.

1666 and 224 pilot assemblies are not interchangeable. The truck on the gondola is probably for the caboose. The 1666 has a 027 motor  and 224 has a o gauge motor, larger wheels and roller pick ups.

The caboose has the proper flying shoe pickups with brass rollers.  Yeah I definitely see differences in the Steam Chest for 1666 and 224. 

Since the gondola has a later truck with pick-up, the original truck has been replaced.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

Since the gondola has a later truck with pick-up, the original truck has been replaced.

Perhaps when run the flying shoe broke off on a switch.  Hence needing a replacement.